Improvement in lap-boards



Patented June 24,1873.

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IMPROVEMENT Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.

IN LAP-BOARDS.

140,3] 3, dated June 24, 1873; application filed March 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN J. SPRAGUE, ofYoungstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Combined Lap-Boards andCloth-Holders, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to furnish a lap-board for the use ofseamstresses and others, which is provided with a cloth-holder; thewhole device being arranged for convenient attachment, removal, andreadjustment to a table, sewing-machine table, the apron of awindow-sill, or the wall of a room, without in any manner beingdependent upon the operative for support.

My said invention consists in the attach ment of a lap-board to a table,sewing-machine table, apron of a Window-sill, or other appropriateplace, by means of cleat-pins upon the under side of said lap-board,which telescope in socket bracket-pieces screwed or otherwise fastenedto said tables or other places; and being therebyT firmly supported foruse without the intervention of the operative; also in providing saidlap-board with a spring-clamp for holding the material during theoperation of cutting or basting, all of which will be hereinafter moreparticularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a top view of thelap-board and cloth-holder, detached from the socket-brackets and readyfor adjustment to any suitable place. Fig. 2 'represents a similar viewof the same, showing the manner of adjustment and support. Fig. 3represents a transverse section, showing more clearly the telescoping ofthe holding cleat-pins with the socket bracketpieces 5 and Fig. 4represents a longitudinal section through the lap-board andspring-holding clamp.

y'Io the under side of the lap-board A are screwed two or morecleat-pins, B, or bars, the ends of which project and are cylindrical,

so as to telescope with socket bracket-pieces O; which socketbracket-pieces are secured to an ordinary table, a sewing-machine table,or the apron of a window-sill, or the Wall of room, as may be mostconvenient to the user; said bracket socket-pieces being fastened byscrews so as to be readily detached from one vplace and fastened toanother.

The lap-board is made to conform to the person, and has a scale, inbas-relief or painted thereon, for graduating the work.

The spring-clamp consists of a simple bar, D, at the right end of thelap-board, and in the same plane,and is held to the same by rubber bandsa, which cause it to firmly clamp the cloth. It is provided with ahandle, D', by which it may be extended with the right hand of theoperative while 'she manipulates the cloth with her left, its bearingwhen open being upon the edge of the lap-board at the inner endthereof'. Said rubber bands a embrace slight recesses in the bar D, soas to prevent the same from sliding out; and they are secured to thelap-board A by means of holding-plates b upon the top of the board, andwashers c upon the bottom, connected by screws, so that in the event ofthe bands wearing out or breaking they can be easily plates b arecountersunk and iiush with the top surface of the board, so as nottointcrfere with the manipulation of the cloth.

rlhe combined movable lap-board and clothholderis constructed in asubstantial manner, and is a most desirable and convenient device forthe purpose. It is supported entirely by the bracket-pieces, theintervention of the lap of the operative or of props being entirelyunnecessary and superiiuous.

Having described my invention, I claiml. The combination of a lap-board,provided on its under side with cleat-pins or bars, with removablesocket bracket-pieces, substantially as described, whereby saidlap-board is supported for use without the intervention of theoperative, as described.

2. The combination of a lap board and spring clamp cloth-holder,substantially as hereinbefore described* Witnesses: EDWIN J. SPRAGUE.

L. BooTn,

Gr. J. MARQUIEN.

removed and others substituted. rlhe holdingl

